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Quick Links
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Benefits of MPAs
- Protection of critical habitats that fish and other species use during important life history stages (spawning, migration, juvenile settlement, etc.).
- Reduction in harvest by reducing fishing pressure for species that show a preference for a specific geographic locatin and/or habitat.
- Diversion of fishing pressure away from critical habitats that can then serve as a refuge for economically-important fish species.
- Allowance for some types of fishing to continue in the MPAs to maintain fishing opportunities.
- Protection of spawning location or a portion of a fish stock to provide a buffer against uncertainty of population estimates and stock assessments.
Benefits of MPAs
- Protection of critical habitats that fish and other species use during important life history stages (spawning, migration, juvenile settlement, etc.).
- Reduction in harvest by reducing fishing pressure for species that show a preference for a specific geographic locatin and/or habitat.
- Diversion of fishing pressure away from critical habitats that can then serve as a refuge for economically-important fish species.
- Allowance for some types of fishing to continue in the MPAs to maintain fishing opportunities.
- Protection of spawning location or a portion of a fish stock to provide a buffer against uncertainty of population estimates and stock assessments.
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What is a Marine Protected Area? A Marine Protected Area (MPA), as defined in Presidential Executive Order 13158 in 2000, is any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by federal, state, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein. The South Atlantic Council further defines MPAs within its jurisdiction as a network of specific areas of marine environments reserved and managed for the primary purpose of aiding in the recovery of overfished stocks and to ensure the persistence of healthy fish stocks, fisheries, and associated habitats. Such areas may include naturally occurring or artificial bottom and water column habitats, and may include prohibition of harvest on seasonal or permanent time periods to achieve desired fishery conservation and management goals. Deepwater MPAs Eight deepwater Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established in the South Atlantic region through implementation of Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The MPAs are designed to protect a portion of the long-lived, "deepwater" snapper grouper species such as snowy grouper, speckled hind, and blueline tilefish. The MPAs range in size from 2 X 4 nautical miles to 10 X 15 nautical miles (see maps below). In addition to the seven areas that provide protection for natural habitat, the amendment creates a deepwater artificial reef MPA off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.  Please refer to the links below for locations and general descriptions of the MPA sites (Updated 11/23/09).
Snowy Wreck MPA Northern South Carolina MPA Edisto MPA and Charleston Deep Reef MPA Georgia MPA North Florida MPA St. Lucie Hump MPA East Hump MPA Download a high-resolution regional map of MPAs off NC, SC and GA Download a high-resolution regional map of MPAs off Florida
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Regulations within MPAs (effective February 12, 2009): - No fishing for or possession of any snapper grouper species.
- No shark bottom longline gear allowed.
- Vessels (both commercial and recreational) may transit (direct, non-stop progression) through the MPAs with snapper grouper species onboard with fishing gear appropriately stowed.**
- Trolling for pelagic species such as tuna, dolphin, mackerel and billfish is allowed within the MPAs.
** Fishing gear appropriately stowed means: - Terminal gear (ie. hook, leader, sinker, flasher, or bait) used with an automatic reel, bandit gear, buoy gear, hand-line, or rod and reel must be disconnected and stowed separetely from such fishing gear. A rod and reel must be removed from the rod holder and stowed securely on or below deck.
- A longline may be left on the drum if all gangions and hooks are disconnected and stowed below deck. Hooks cannot be baited. All buoys must be disconnected from the gear; however, buoys may remain on deck.
- A trawl or try net may remain on deck, but trawl doors must be disconnected from such net and must be secured.
- A gill net, stab net, or trammel net must be left on the drum. Any additional such nets not attached to the drum must be stowed below deck.
- A crustacean trap, golden crab trap, or sea bass pot cannot be baited. All buoys must be disconnected from the gear; however, buoys may remain on deck.
Regulations within MPAs (effective February 12, 2009): - No fishing for or possession of any snapper grouper species.
- No shark bottom longline gear allowed.
- Vessels (both commercial and recreational) may transit (direct, non-stop progression) through the MPAs with snapper grouper species onboard with fishing gear appropriately stowed.**
- Trolling for pelagic species such as tuna, dolphin, mackerel and billfish is allowed within the MPAs.
** Fishing gear appropriately stowed means: - Terminal gear (ie. hook, leader, sinker, flasher, or bait) used with an automatic reel, bandit gear, buoy gear, hand-line, or rod and reel must be disconnected and stowed separetely from such fishing gear. A rod and reel must be removed from the rod holder and stowed securely on or below deck.
- A longline may be left on the drum if all gangions and hooks are disconnected and stowed below deck. Hooks cannot be baited. All buoys must be disconnected from the gear; however, buoys may remain on deck.
- A trawl or try net may remain on deck, but trawl doors must be disconnected from such net and must be secured.
- A gill net, stab net, or trammel net must be left on the drum. Any additional such nets not attached to the drum must be stowed below deck.
- A crustacean trap, golden crab trap, or sea bass pot cannot be baited. All buoys must be disconnected from the gear; however, buoys may remain on deck.
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Download a copy of the Regulations for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas in the South Atlantic (PDF)
History of MPA Implementation Public involvement has been key in the development of Amendment 14 and the proposed MPAs. An overview of the developmental process for Amendment 14 is included in a Historical Overview of the Council's MPA-Related Activities (also see below). A series of 8 public hearings were held in coastal areas in the southeast in the Fall of 2006, concluding with a final hearing during the Council's September 18-22, 2006 meeting in Hilton Head, South Carolina. These public hearings were one more step in the 16 year collaborative process (see the MPA Source Documents page) between the Council, its advisors, and public stakeholders for developing MPAs as a management tool for snapper grouper species. As part of Amendment 14, the Council coordinated with the NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division to regulate shark longlining within the MPAs. For more information, please view the Final Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. July 2006. and the Final Rule for Amendment 14. The Historical Overview of the Council's MPA-related activities (1990-2006) (36 KB, PDF) is an account of the collaborative process the Council undertook to arrive at the current proposed sites. In addition, background information on the Council's process for developing MPAs (meeting minutes, reports) from 1990 to 2006 is available on the MPA Source Documents page. This information is also available on CD upon request from the Council office. Public Hearing Document for Amendment 14 (3.6 MB PDF)
Includes background information, a complete listing of marine protected area site alternatives with maps, and a list of the Council's preferred alternatives for site locations. Summary information regarding Amendment 14 can be found in the Public Hearing Summary Document (360 KB PDF).
Download a copy of the Regulations for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas in the South Atlantic (PDF)
History of MPA Implementation Public involvement has been key in the development of Amendment 14 and the proposed MPAs. An overview of the developmental process for Amendment 14 is included in a Historical Overview of the Council's MPA-Related Activities (also see below). A series of 8 public hearings were held in coastal areas in the southeast in the Fall of 2006, concluding with a final hearing during the Council's September 18-22, 2006 meeting in Hilton Head, South Carolina. These public hearings were one more step in the 16 year collaborative process (see the MPA Source Documents page) between the Council, its advisors, and public stakeholders for developing MPAs as a management tool for snapper grouper species. As part of Amendment 14, the Council coordinated with the NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division to regulate shark longlining within the MPAs. For more information, please view the Final Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. July 2006. and the Final Rule for Amendment 14. The Historical Overview of the Council's MPA-related activities (1990-2006) (36 KB, PDF) is an account of the collaborative process the Council undertook to arrive at the current proposed sites. In addition, background information on the Council's process for developing MPAs (meeting minutes, reports) from 1990 to 2006 is available on the MPA Source Documents page. This information is also available on CD upon request from the Council office. Public Hearing Document for Amendment 14 (3.6 MB PDF)
Includes background information, a complete listing of marine protected area site alternatives with maps, and a list of the Council's preferred alternatives for site locations. Summary information regarding Amendment 14 can be found in the Public Hearing Summary Document (360 KB PDF).
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